Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1887-10-05
REV. MR.. TODD,s APPEAL.
The Presbytery Spends TO.day's Session
CORRECTING the Record.

the washington Presbyeery assembled at the
westminster church on 9TH street southwest last
night The retiring moderator, Rev. Dr.. French,
preached the opening sermon from the text,
"Preacn the word; be instant In season, out OF
season, reprove, rcbuke. exhort with all long SUI
ier1ng and doctrine."-u Timothy, iv., 9.
Dr. Hamlin and Rev. r. s. Fleming assisted In
the religious exercises. After the services Rev.
I. s. Hanlin, DID,. was unanimously elected mod
orator. Kew. K. s. Fleming was reelected tempo
rary clerk.
COMMITTEES ANNOUNCED THIS MORNING.
Inc presoytery resumed Its session at Westmin
ster church, 9TH street southwest, this morning.
MODERATOR hamlln presiding. After devotional.
exercises the roll was called and the moderator
announced the Following committees.
JUDICIAL: RevS. French and Bartlett and Elder
baiantyne; Bills and overtureS: Revs Fullerton
and Van Wyck and Elder Deans: On leave OF alt
sehce; KEYS. Little and Nourse and Elder Snow
0au; narrative Tor synod: Revs. Chester and
Ramsdell and Elder Snow; Statistics for synod
ReFS. Blttinger and Kelly and Elder Pearson: on
Wells and Leitch.
THE CASE OF REV. F. n. TODD.
The stated clerk read the record Of the case
against Rev. +. NJ. Todd, OF Manassas Va, as
made by the presbytary. The testimony which
was MADE up from the newspaper reports, being
attachet as EXHIBITS. In the reading the record
the stated clerk made several corrections. Judge
Drake caused quite debate by making the point
mat tnls pres6ytery had no right to make any al
terauonS IN the record OF past presbylery: that
the record must go up to the synod as made by
tne temporary Clerk, and there was no authority
TO make any amendment
UfS. Chiids, Fullerton and others contended that
to the synod. -
Mir. Fleming moved to strike out all references to
testimony, and TO adhere strictly to the record
made by the temporary clerk
Ut. Fullerton said it was the universal custom
Ior lne stated clerk in making up his record 10
pOrary clerk.
Judge Drake pertlnaciously maintained that the
reGufu vi past presDytery could not be changed.
Or CnlluS ana several others said that the pres
DyCery, In the trial OF Mr.. Todd virtually agreed
to accept the press reports as Official; that The
counsei on both sides agreed TO this, ana the pres
taken.
Judge Drake said then that that bound the pres.
pJtery 70 accept the reports part OF Its record
Dr. Chiids said the record had never been read
TO the presbytery before, and it ought to be made
TO CONFORM TO the facts.
After protracted debate motion was adopted
authorizing The stated clerk to insert In the record
that the report OF the testimony as published in
Tue papers was accepted by the counsel in 'prea-
elce OF the judiciary"
The appeal OF Mr. Todd was then read. It recites
tnat The appeal Is taken because OF irreguarty In
the proceedings OF the Presbytery in tne form OF
its nnal Judgment; that after nearly two-thirds
nau voted That the charges were not sustained The
nndlng was In substance the Old Scotch verdict OF
mot proven" form or finding not recognized In
ulouelu tccltslaStlcal law tnltl the verdict SnOuO
have been mot guilty." that TWO OF the meinbers
VINO were appointed TO draft the final
verdict had voted with the minority fol
verdict OF guilty, and having voted with the
minority tney had no right TO impose their find
Ing On tne ina verdict; That the nnulng Was IOt
III accordance Win the pronounced judgment ol
the court, aru the accused had right 10 4 cieal
anu distinct verdict OF mot guilty"
A COMMITTEE TO DEFEND THE PREsBYTERY.
After further debate Rev. Drs. Childs and French
and Elder Lyman were appointed committee to
defend the presbytery before the synod. Dr.
Childs stated that lie had hoped to have the ap-
peal Withdrawn ana 10 end the Todd case without
going iurtner; Unat he mad had a con-
veraation Win Or. sunderland, counsel for Mr..
Iodd, looking 70 that end, and he believed that
had Dr. Sunderland been able TO be present tie
appeal would nave been Withdrawn, but in the
absence Of DI. Sunderland he supposed the Case
would have 10 take its course ana 20 before the
synod.
JUDGE BRAKES APPEAL.
Mr. Il. II. Wells was appointed on the committee
to defend the presbytery on the appeal OF Judge
Chas. d. Drake, in place Of Mr.. c. b. Walker, re.
signed. Judge Drake made charges against q
minister Ior introducing lturgicai services, and
The presDy terry did not sustain them. IAereupOn
Judge Drake TOOK an appeal 10 the synod.
Inc preSDytery took recess.